Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Lennix
I’d been sitting at my computer for hours, lost in the never-ending work, when my phone chimed, pulling me out of the haze of numbers and graphs that made my brain a cloudy, cobweb-covered mess.
I blinked, my eyelids feeling like they were coated in sandpaper, and shook my head to clear it before flipping my phone to see a message from my mom.
Mominator: Turn off the computer and back away from the desk.
I smiled as my thumbs flew over the screen, crafting a reply.
Me: Did you put cameras in my office?
Her response came quickly.
Mominator: Not necessary. I know my girl, which means I know you’ve probably been working so hard you forgot to eat.
As if on cue, my stomach let out a rumble, reminding me that it had been too long since I put anything in it.
Me: Your weird, mama-mind-meld thing doesn’t impress me. It’s just creepy.
Mominator: Yes it does, and it’s not creepy. It’s a talent I’m sure I handed down to you. One you’ll be grateful for when you start popping out babies. I’m sure you forgot, so this is your reminder. Family dinner tonight. Now pack up your things and get your butt over here.
I started to type out a response, but another message came through before I could hit send.
Mominator: And don’t bother telling me you’re too busy. I don’t care. It’s MANDATORY. See you soon, daughter of mine.
Ugh, I hated when she used shouty caps in texts. It was just so aggressive.
Letting out a resigned sigh, I did as she ordered and shut everything down, knowing there would be hell to pay if I ignored her command.
I waved at Emily, the manager of the tasting room, on my way out, and pushed through the back door into the parking lot as I fished through my bag for my keys.
It never failed that the damn things fell into some sort of black hole that seemed to go on forever in the bottom of every purse, no matter the size.
No matter how many times I told myself I would keep my purse clean and only carry the essentials, I always ended up with a ton of crap that helped bury my keys in the nothingness.
“Aha!” I cried triumphantly as soon as my fingers wrapped around the cool metal teeth. I yanked them out and thrust my fist into the air, only to jerk to a stop when my eyes landed on my car. Or more specifically, on the single white tulip lying on the hood.
My steps were reluctant as I closed the distance and reached for the folded piece of paper resting beneath the stem. The writing was sharp, slanted script that leaned more masculine than feminine, spelling out two words.
My beauty.
No signature, nothing else. Just my beauty and a white tulip.
The little hairs on the back of my neck stood straight as I looked around like whoever had left it was still there might still be lingering in the parking lot.
A shiver worked its way down my back, and I could have sworn I felt eyes on me.
I shook my head, realizing how ridiculous I was being.
“Jeez, Len. Get your shit together. No one’s stalking you,” I muttered to myself as I tossed the flower and letter in a nearby garbage can.
I worked in a bar, for crying out loud. There was no shortage of admirers for everyone on staff here, so I was sure whoever left the message and flower was just some well-meaning person with a crush, who was as bad at pick-up lines as the sweet cheeks dude from last week.
Putting it out of my mind, I climbed into the car and headed off to my parents’ before my mom could send any more texts.
By the time I pulled in front of their house, my stomach was growling steadily at the thought of whatever my mom had prepared for the evening. It didn’t matter what it was. Whatever she cooked was going to be incredible.
I shut off the engine and climbed out right as the front door to my parents’ house was thrown open and my sister-in-law came rushing out.
“Wow, Rae. Did you miss me that much?” I asked with a teasing laugh as she hurried down the steps in my direction. “I know we haven’t seen each other in twenty-four hours, but you didn’t need to come out and greet me personally.”
“I’m not. I mean, not that I didn’t miss you. But that’s not why I came rushing out here. I wanted to warn you before you went inside.”
All traces of humor fled. “Warn me about what?”
Her lips flattened and her face stretched into a wince. “Raylan’s here.”
I could have sworn I heard a record scratch in my brain. “What do you mean he’s here?”
“Like he’s inside. Zach invited him to dinner and I couldn’t exactly get him to take it back without spilling your secret.”
“Ugh.” I threw my head back and groaned up at the sky. “My brother is the worst.”
I’d kept the events of that night to myself for a long time, not wanting to relive the embarrassment and pain that came with rehashing everything, but about a month ago, I finally came clean to my friend, Merritt.
It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders after that, so instead of carrying that burden all on my own, I opened up to the rest of my girls—well, those who weren’t related to him at least. On top of swearing never to share what happened with a single soul outside our little girl squad, they also ran interference whenever the need arose.
Like just then.
I let out a heavy sigh, forcing my muscles to relax. There was no way in hell I was walking in there and letting him see that his presence had any effect on me. This was my parents’ house, damn it. If there was anyone who should have felt uncomfortable, it was him.
“It’s fine,” I insisted, shaking out the lingering tension in my shoulders and standing tall.
Rae looked skeptical. “Are you sure?”
I blew out a raspberry and waved my hand. “Totally. I am totally fine. Don’t I look fine? If anyone shouldn’t be fine, it’s him. Because I am totally—”
“Fine. Yeah, so you’ve said. A little too passionately.”
“Only because it’s true.” I knew I sounded like I was losing my mind, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
Rae’s head tilted to the side as she studied me too closely for my comfort. “Sweetie, I thought you said you were over him.”
“I am,” I insisted, my voice rising painfully high. I cleared my throat and tried again. “I am over him.”
I held my breath as her eyes scanned every inch of my face. My stomach dropped the moment pity washed over her features. “Oh, honey.”
Damn it. I had hoped I could lie more convincingly, but apparently not.
“Whatever. I’m not talking about this, especially not right now. Let’s get inside and get this over with, shall we?” I put on a brave face and started marching toward the front porch steps like a soldier heading into battle. “Please, God, tell me there’s booze.”
“Beer and wine,” Rae said as she trailed after me. “And you know I’ve got your back. I’ll run interference as best as I can.”
I really had lucked out in the sister-in-law department. With my hand on the door knob, I turned to look over my shoulder and gave her a genuine smile. “You’re my favorite sibling.”
She returned my smile with one of her own. “I am totally telling your brother you said that next time he pisses me off.”
Oh, I had no doubt she would.
“There’s my girl!” Mom came into the entryway from the kitchen, holding her arms wide. I walked into her embrace without hesitation. Not to be partial or anything, but I could have sworn my parents gave the best hugs ever. Better than kitten fur or unicorn kisses.
“Hey, Mom.”
She pulled back, cupping my cheeks in her hands and squishing them together just like she had been doing since I was a toddler. “I’m so happy to see you.”
I shook off her hold with a laugh. “I told you I would be here, didn’t I?”
“Ah, there she is!” My grandmother came around the corner just then, a glass of wine in each hand. Knowing my grandma, it was a toss-up whether one of those was for me, or she was simply double fisting.
I got my answer when she thrust one of them in my direction. “For you,” she said, stepping in to press a kiss to my cheek. I would have usually preferred a beer instead, but I had a feeling I’d be needing something with a higher alcohol content tonight.
“Ah, bless you,” I breathed gratefully before taking an extra-long gulp.
The skin on the back of my neck began to tingle, and I knew without having to turn around who was watching me, but I refused to look in that direction. Instead, I acted like he wasn’t there as I went around to greet the rest of my family.
“Hey, Dad.” I moved into my father’s embrace, closing my eyes and taking a moment to soak up the security I always felt within his arms.
I bent down to my grandfather where he sat in the recliner and placed a kiss to his weathered cheek. “Hey, old man. How you doing?”
He grinned up at me affectionately, reaching out to pat my hand.
Despite his age, Bill Hightower was still larger than life to me.
He’d slowed down a lot in recent years and had a permanent slope to his once-broad, wide shoulders, but to me he was as strong and powerful as he’d always been.
“Alive and kickin’, so I got no complaints, sweetheart. ”
I gave him a tender smile. “Glad to hear it.”
My brother came up behind me, hooking his arm around my neck and putting me in a headlock while ruffling my hair with his knuckles, driving me crazy like he had since I was a kid. “About time you got here, little sis. Thought I was gonna waste away from hunger, waiting for you.”
I elbowed Zach in the gut and stepped away, lifting my hands to fix my hair as I glared daggers in his direction. “The last thing you need to worry about is starving to death.”
He patted his stomach and grinned. “Hey, I’m a growin’ boy. We require a lot of food.”
I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “I’d hate to see your grocery bill.”
I could still feel Raylan’s eyes on me, but my avoidance was starting to feel like a game. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how long I’d be able to hold out.
“Dinner’s ready,” my mom announced just as things started to get a little wobbly, saving me from losing the battle of wills we had going. “Everybody, come on. Let’s eat.”
It wasn’t until I followed after everyone into the dining room, bringing up the rear, that I realized the problem. I skidded to a stop, my ribs constricting around my lungs with panic as I took in the seating arrangements.
Rae gave me a wide-eyed look from across the table the moment my gaze met hers. She saw the issue at nearly the same time I did. That issue being the fact there was only one empty chair left, and it happened to be right beside Raylan.
“Uh . . .” Her eyes darted around like she was looking for a way to save me.
“Come on, baby.” Zach came up beside Rae and pulled out a chair for her, ushering her to sit down before leaning in to place a kiss on the skin between her neck and shoulder. A sharp pang pierced right into the center of my chest at the adoration on my brother’s face as he looked at his wife.
Until recently, I hadn’t realized it was possible to be disgustingly happy for someone and jealous at the same time, but I could no longer deny the longing I felt to have what Zach and Rae had.
Or Ivy and Connor. Or so many of my other friends who were finding the loves of their lives and settling down.
I wanted that. I wanted someone to look at me like I was everything. Who wanted me so badly the need to touch me was almost a compulsion.
A throat cleared, pulling me out of my musings and back to the present. With no other choice, I looked at Raylan for the first time since arriving at my parents’ house.
He had one arrogant brow raised high on his forehead, his expression making my hand twitch with the desire to smack it right off his stupid, handsome face.
As if he could read my thoughts, one corner of his mouth hooked up in a smirk. “You gonna just stand there, Chaos, or join the rest of us?”
For the life of me, I couldn’t understand how it was possible to hate someone and want them so damn badly at the same time.